With two first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, Nos. 13 and 22, perhaps the Hawks take another swing at solving their long-standing issue. Fischer questioned if Bailey, once viewed as a lock to go in the top-three picks, could fall out of the top eight spots. “There are concerns among NBA evaluators about Bailey’s shot selection and general approach to the game,” Fischer wrote on June 19. However, it is the elder Cooper who is “running point” on a confounding situation with the draft just over one week away. However, questions arose earlier in the day when ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted Bailey had not yet traveled to Utah, unlike fellow Jazz first-round pick Walter Clayton Jr.
Making swift decisions is crucial for the offensive side. This perspective suggests that Bailey may have been the key influence behind those choices. Bailey’s long-time manager, Omar Cooper, led the pre-draft process, emphasizing a basketball fit instead of aiming for a higher lottery position. Witlieb highlighted that Bailey’s representatives concentrated on finding the ideal on-court environment rather than focusing on draft placement. It is hoped that Bailey, along with his licensed agents and family, recognizes that some of these choices have been detrimental to him and could continue to have negative effects if not addressed.
So far, Ace Bailey is set to be Omar Cooper’s top-ranked client, as he has the potential to challenge Cooper Flagg (No. 1) and his Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper (No.
2). Bailey’s choice to dismiss Cooper indicates his desire to progress and assist the Jazz in improving their standings. During his college career, the younger Cooper participated in only 12 games before announcing himself for the NBA Draft in 2021.
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A team interested in Bailey would benefit greatly from attempting to move up the draft order to select him. As an 18-year-old entering the NBA, Bailey showcases numerous shot-making skills, but his overall defensive skill set remains undeveloped, and he struggles to read the court consistently. While his pre-draft process raised additional concerns, those aspects did not dissuade teams from considering him. He made less than 30 percent of his three-point attempts, and his decision-making in terms of passing is still developing.
You also wonder if he even needs to, because his shot is so good that he can probably let it go from anywhere on the floor. Based on a VERY PRELIMINARY scan of highlight reels he looks like a guy who just had an uncontestable shot in college. Among the weaknesses are tunnel vision, finishing at the rim, streakiness, shot selection, and defense. The jumper is Ace’s ace in the hole in any given situation, and he’s gone to it repeatedly this season at Rutgers, typically in the midrange. Bailey is among the most talented pure shotmakers to come through college basketball in the past decade.
A trade deal between Charlotte and Philadelphia appears to be a logical and sensible choice. It’s straightforward to promote Edgecombe as having the highest athletic potential among the remaining players. A source familiar with his recent workout with the Mavericks mentioned that the team was incredibly impressed with his shooting ability. Only 21 teams possess selections among the first 36 picks. Numerous teams are aiming to make trades to enter the draft, while others are looking to consolidate their picks.
Maluach has become a focal point of trade talks across the league, attracting interest from several late lottery teams wanting to move up the draft board to acquire him. Sharife was a McDonald’s All-American likely bound for the lottery until off-court issues linked to family influence derailed his status. If the top seven picks unfold as predicted, the No. 8 and No. 9 spots will become highly sought-after as trade assets. This year has seen more trade discussions regarding teams contemplating moving both up and down the draft board than I can recall.
NBA franchises are optimistic about him, with his draft range appearing to fall in the latter half of the lottery. Beringer arguably stands out as the most agile big man in the draft, capable of rapidly transitioning up and down the court and possessing significant potential as a rim running partner for De’Aaron Fox. Although Bryant didn’t start frequently for Arizona this year, he was an exceptional defensive player, displaying significant playmaking skills and strong on-ball defense when on the court. I’ve heard they might be considering options to trade down to accumulate more assets and intriguing players. I don’t foresee Fears or Bailey dropping past this position unless both are available simultaneously. While Maluach may not excel as a shot-blocker, he is aware of his size and effectively uses it to cut off driving angles and contest shots in the paint.
I’ve also been informed that the Thunder will at least consider moving up the draft board to ensure they secure their targeted player, regardless of who that may be. However, Atlanta’s recent acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis might have created opportunities for the Spurs to consider moving Beringer down to the No. 14 position. League sources have indicated that San Antonio could be willing to trade this pick if their preferred candidates are unavailable. Although he committed to Duke this spring after entering the transfer portal, it seemed highly improbable that he would withdraw from the draft given his skill set and shooting prowess.
Ace Bailey & Omar Cooper: Manager, Agent, Contract & the Latest News
That decision was made by individuals within his camp who are expected to prioritize his best interests. Players typically have agents and management teams that handle communication, schedule workouts, and arrange meetings with NBA franchises. You may have encountered reports claiming that Bailey has declined workouts, maintained a limited list of preferred teams, and threatened not to attend training camp if selected by an undesirable team.
The immediate aftermath of Bailey getting drafted has been a lot more dramatic and stress-free than it ever needed to be. “I don’t see this happening to a lot of agents’ players,” Cowherd said. 1BYU restructures athletic department; school vice president will oversee football program Hopefully, Bailey arrives in Utah this weekend, and is on the court Monday with the rest of the Jazz’s Summer League squad. There has been buzz over the last couple of days that Bailey could potentially not report to the Jazz for their Summer League training camp and his introductory press conference. Fortunately, Bailey was drafted high, his potential is clear and he will have every opportunity afforded to him, so long as Cooper and those around him don’t try to make any more unnecessary waves.
Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game at Rutgers while sharing the spotlight with potential No. 2 draft pick Dylan Harper, who is the son of former NBA player Ron Harper, a teammate of Michael Jordan. Reportedly, the Bailey camp has informed teams that they regard him as a “top-three player in the draft” but also wish for him to be chosen by a franchise willing to offer substantial playing time from the beginning. Despite the opportunity for his client to secure the best chance with Philadelphia, the actions of Cooper and Bailey regarding the draft have puzzled teams.
Knueppel’s potential is likened to that of Desmond Bane, whom the Memphis Grizzlies recently acquired for four first-round picks due to the aforementioned reasons. He is expected to be valuable early in his career, thanks to his shooting ability, decision-making, spatial awareness, and capability to manage the ball effectively. Following lottery night, the Hornets have been rumored to favor Edgecombe as a complementary fit alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Philadelphia has significantly complicated its potential decision-making regarding the No. 3 pick over the past few weeks. In the 2025 NBA Draft, Bailey was consistently viewed as a lottery selection.